JACKSONVILLE - There's at least 10 defensive coordinators who didn't believe what they saw during the first 45 minutes of Saturday's ACC Championship Game.
The Florida State defense corralled Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick and the Hokie rushing attack in smothering fashion through the first three quarters on the way to a surprising 27-22 victory.
In his previous 11 games - 10 of them victories - Vick had compiled 32 runs that led to first downs and a total of 359 yards rushing and four touchdowns.
With the exception of Miami on Nov.5, the Seminoles' defense put on a rare display during the first ACC Championship Game - an answer for the junior signal caller's slingshot arm and happy feet. Vick's longest run of the night was 16 yards early in the fourth quarter that brought his rushing total into positive numbers.
Virginia Tech, which ironically brought the nation's best defense into Alltel Stadium, was only able to muster 41 yards on 31 carries.
"(Defensive coordinator) Mickey (Andrews) just did a heck of a job," said coach Bobby Bowden. "We felt like we were quicker. We talked to our kids all week to beat them to the punch, beat them to the punch."
Trailing 27-3 at the end of the third, Vick and the Hokies' offense took multiple deep shots that led to two touchdowns over span of 2 minutes, 32 seconds. Florida State's lead was cut to 27-15 after a pair of blown assignments in the secondary.
The Seminoles followed the attack with quick and inefficient offensive possessions in the final period. Those gave the defense little rest before Vick led the Hokie offense downfield on a 13-play, 93-yard drive that cut the Seminoles lead to five with 1:45 left.
"We told them we had to win the third quarter," Bowden said. "They are a third-quarter team. I should have told them the fourth (quarter) too."
The defense, which had given up 30 points in each of the past two games, buckled down behind a pair of seniors in the second half.
Former Chamberlain High standout Brodrick Bunkley continued his late season tear with two tackles for loss in the contest. It gave the senior 23 tackles for loss on the season, enough to pass Darnell Dockett's total of 22 in 2001.
Safety Pat Watkins grabbed an interception that led to a Leon Washington touchdown and downed a Chris Hall punt inside the FSU 1 in the third quarter. He added a momentum-shifting open-field tackle on Virginia Tech punt returner Eddie Royal with just under 12 minutes to play that limited the return to nothing.
Saturday wasn't the first time Andrews orientated himself with a Vick. Vick's brother and former Virginia Tech standout Michael Vick carried 23 times for 97 yards against Andrews' national championship defensive unit in the 2000 Sugar Bowl.
